Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHIILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday the Democratic Party of St. Maarten presented its Party Platform on Labor and Human Resources vision as part of the DP Party Platform. The vision highlights the party's commitment to ensuring social dialogue and commitment in ensuring that the country's labor force and human resources continues to grow; "The DP will continue its approach of social dialogue on matters related to labor, allowing workers and employers to contribute to the process. There is a general consensus on more flexibility in the labor market; the need for adaptation of the dismissal law; control on compliance; and unemployment benefits. The DP will bite the proverbial bullet and champion a change from the "cessantia" system to a more modern system of unemployment insurance and pension benefits," read the platform.
The party platform also highlights the party's plans in addressing Immigration and Foreign Labor; "Since 2010 the Immigration and Border Management of our Country has made great leaps. Our borders can now be much better controlled and managed. Persons wishing to enter St. Martin other than for the purpose of a visit will have to follow the rules that govern residency on our island. With the new system in place, much more effective service can be provided, alleviating the temptation by some to try and beat the system.
"The DP advocates upward mobility for our own people in the labor force. This mobility is enhanced through provision of training and re-training programs, which is most effectively done in cooperation with employers. A versatile and easily adaptable workforce will be the result. Availability of skilled labor is part of the criteria foreign investors use to judge the feasibility of investing in a particular region or country. It also reduces the need for importation of expatriate labor. However, for cases that do require expatriate labor, the foreign labor policy must be transparent and efficient. The DP believes that the foreign labor permit policy should be a differentiated one," emphasized the Democratic Party Platform on Labor and Human Resources.
DP Press Release
